PET 2:1 JOK | SKA St. Petersburg - Jokerit Helsinki (KHL)

KHL

SKA St. Petersburg – Jokerit

2:1 (2:0 after SO)

after shootout (2:0)

SKA St. Petersburg Rusko

2:1 (1:0, 0:1, 0:0 - 0:0)

Jokerit Helsinki

Sunday 15.02.2015, 15:30 • Ice Palace of Saint Petersburg • KHL

		That went all the way down to the wire, and SKA Saint Petersburg have defeated Jokerit 2:1 after penalty shots! It was a very even game for the most part, with both teams extremely well matched. Roman Rukavishnikov and Ilya Kovalchuk with the winning penalty shot netted for SKA, with Ville Lajunen scoring for the visitors. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more thrilling KHL action! (18:10:07)
		Game over.
		Goal for SKA! ILYA KOVALCHUK nets the winning penalty shot!
	3. series 2:0	Pyotr Khokhryakov can win it here now for SKA, and he does just that firing clinically into the left hand corner! It's SKA's day!
	2. series 1:0	Steve Moses is second for Jokerit, and he's shut down by the netminder's left pad!
	2. series 1:0	Ilya Kovalchuk skates forward next, and he goes top shelf glove side for 1:0!
	1. series 0:0	Here goes Jokerit's captain Niko Kapanen, and he is denied by Mikko Koskinen five hole!
	1. series 0:0	Roman Cervenka opens the shootout up as he skates first for SKA, and he fires directly into Henrik Karlsson's chest!
		Start of shootout.
		Statistics after overtime: Shots: 65-50 Shots on target: 39-22 Faceoffs: 30-35 Hits: 33-21 Penalty minutes: 2-4
	65:00	Overtime finished.
	64:51	And that was indeed the final chance of the day, as penalty shots are needed here! It's been a very tense affair from start to finish!
	64:37	Moses! That's what the American can do! Steve Moses bullies his way from the left on to the crease one on one, however he's pressured effectively when attempting to get something away!
	63:47	As a low, cutting slap shot is fired in from the blue line, Mikko Koskinen shows very sharp reactions to get his pads in the way, and then push it away with his stick
	63:01	Henrik Karlsson can't grab hold of a rising dump from the left hand boards, Jimmie Ericsson and Ilya Kovalchuk try their best to punish him, and in the end the referee kills the play dead!
	61:06	Vaananen! Just as I said that the Jokerit defenceman could, and probably should, have finished it! Space opens up for Ossi Vaananen closing in down the right, however he is stoned at point blank range by home netminder Mikko Koskinen!
	60:31	Henrik Karlsson makes the first save of the extra frame, as he covers up a powerful wrister from the right flank. He will probably be the busiest during this time!
	60:04	Overtime has started! Remember that we will have five minutes of game play, and if no one can score penalty shots will be coming up! And of course both sides already have the one point in the bank
	60:01	Overtime began.
		Statistics after the initial 60 minutes: Shots: Shots on target: Faceoffs: Hits: Penalty shots:
	60:00	3rd period finished.
	59:49	We're already into the last few seconds now, and overtime is indeed coming up inside the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace!
	58:04	Viktor Tikhonov pulls behind the net glove side, gently but cunningly whips it across, and it travels through everyone and out of danger!
	56:52	Dinar Khafizullin opts to blast from the point, and with no one blocking his view Henrik Karlsson is there to take it in solidly
	56:12	Hagman! Niklas Hagman has too much pace for his markers on the left flank, and he cracks his slapper wide of the far corner! And seconds later Steve Moses crashes an attempt high of the crossbar when doing a full 360!
	55:37	With Patrick Thoresen pushing his way to the crease Tony Martensson whacks it across from the right, although the goalkeeper is first to it near post
	54:35	Not an awful lot of goalmouth action is being seen at all now as the final few minutes approach, no on wants to make a deciding mistake with such little time remaining!
	51:59	Thoresen! Between the circles Patrick Thoresen tries his luck, and the away goalkeeper beats it away with his blocker as attackers were closing him down!
	51:12	That was something for SKA there though! It's a two on one on the right, the puck is sent across looking for Ilya Kovalchuk, however it's cut out in time by back tracking Jokerit defencemen!
	50:31	Mikko Koskinen shields a couple of dumps in quick succession. It is a rather strange affair today, with so little chances on show at all making for a nervy climax to proceedings
	49:16	It had to be said that SKA did next to nothing during those couple of minutes, and with their powerplay not working their opponents are back at full strength
	48:01	Patrick Thoresen thumps the puck in from the left faceoff circle, however even with heavy traffic covering him Henrik Karlsson sees it all the way to catch
	47:16	Jokerit have taken a very untimely penalty here, as for tripping forward Semir Ben-Amor has been called! SKA can really put the heat on now!
	46:33	Finnish forward Tommi Huhtala makes a dash down the left, shoots with pace, and Mikko Koskinen flashes leather expertly to take it in. He needs to be on his game as time moves on, any mistake will surely prove critical!
	44:05	Poysti! That was a gaping chance for Jokerit to take the lead for the first time today! Etu Poysti has space on the doorstep, wrists neatly, and fires inches over the left post! It really as a fantastic chance for the visitors!
	42:35	Puck possession is being taken control of by the hosts now, they want to take over the initiative just like in the first when they were in complete control almost!
	41:33	Jokerit were excellently solid during that time, and they have their full quota of players back into the action
	41:18	A massive pile up threatens to erupt on Jokerit's crease, bodies and stick are flying everywhere for the puck, and eventually the referees blows as it gets stuck under the goaltender!
	40:36	The puck has dropped for the third period, and remember that SKA are still on the powerplay for a further 01:33!
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Statistics after the first two periods: Shots: 42-29 Shots on target: 25-9 Faceoffs: 15-24 Hits: 22-14 Penalty minutes: 2-2
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:46	The last few moments of the second period are now here, and it's going to be a winning takes all third coming up!
	39:36	With the seconds ticking by Jokerit have been penalised for a foul, as for interference Petr Koukal has been sent to the penalty box
	37:12	Virtually out of nothing it's a SKA two on one moving out to the left, although the eventual wrister is predictable and the goalkeeper beats it out with his chest! That was something for them to build on!
	35:26	Offside is committed by Jokerit. The arena has fallen very quiet since that equalising goal, and SKA need to up the pace again to give their fans something to cheer about!
	33:23	Ilya Kovalchuk draws his stick back almost on the right faceoff circle, and the goaltender is helped out as it's touched up into the glass. He hasn't had that much to do in this period, as opportunities are at a premium
	32:22	As the puck comes crawling in from the left flank Henrik Karlsson gloves it to kill the danger. The Jokerit fans inside the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace are thrilled with that equaliser, and they will be full of confidence in their team now!
	31:22	Goal for Jokerit! Within seconds of that penalty being killed Jokerit strike! VILLE LAJUNEN winds up from the blue line, and Mikko Koskinen lets it slip over his glove! Powerplay goal and it's 1:1! Assists- Steve Moses and Linus Omark
	31:19	The referee has his arm up here and Jokerit have been gifted the first powerplay of the day, as SKA's Swedish forward Tony Marensson has been punished for holding
	31:09	Nikolay Belov finishes off a lengthy SKA play inside the attacking end, hopes for someone to make a telling deflection, however it is too close to the goaltender's glove
	30:44	Just how well matched these two sides are is on show for all to see today, very few clear cut chances are being created, while in defence very little is being given away
	28:42	Jokerit calmly work the puck deep into SKA's zone, Oskari Korpikari flicks his wrist when left alone by his marker, and he can't hit the target! That looked promising for the Finns!
	27:03	Cervenka! Jokerit's defence were slack there! Roman Cervenka takes the puck away from a sleeping away defenceman, fires blocker side, and it crashes beyond the goalkeeper's glove and into the boards!
	26:43	Goalscorer Roman Rukavishnikov breaks past the blue line, wrists looking to catch the goalkeeper out, however this time Henrik Karlsson sees it comfortably to field
	24:07	Kovalchuk! Ilya Kovalchuk skates out to the right wing, blasts with all his might, and sears over the far corner! That goalkeeper would have had a job to reach out with his blocker!
	23:18	SKA's Ilya Kablukov moves out to the right faceoff circle, defencemen's skates take the sting out of the following shot, and at the second attempt Henrik Karlsson covers it up with his glove
	22:04	Mikko Koskinen lets a huge rebound bounce off his chest, and the puck ends up shaving the right post! Jokerit have begun with real purpose now!
	20:23	Hagman! Within seconds of the start of the second stanza Jokerit create their first meaningful opportunity of the game! Niklas Hagman strips his opponent on the blue line, closes down, and is denied by an alert Mikko Koskinen right pad save!
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Statistics after the opening period of play: Shots: 22-12 Shots on target: 16-3 Faceoffs: 4-12 Hits: 13-8 Penalty minutes: 0-0
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:53	The final seconds of the first period are now upon us, with SKA certainly having the better of proceedings so far!
	18:45	The fired up Ilya Kovalchuk powers down the left shaking off his markers, shoots with strength, and at the second attempt Mikko Koskinen gets his body over it! The pace has certainly been upped now!
	18:13	However immediately at the other end SKA netminder Mikko Koskinen has to make his first serious save of the day! American forward Steve Moses trickles down the right wing, wrists looking for the far corner, and eventually he freezes it for a faceoff!
	17:49	Goal for SKA! There is the deserved breakthrough for SKA! ROMAN RUKAVISHNIKOV frees himself up at the point, blasts the puck in through traffic, and the goaltender can't react to a sharp deflection! It's 1:0! Assists- Vadim Shipachyov
	17:01	SKA captain Ilya Kovalchuk wriggles free of his marker at the high slot, takes aim, and is shut down by Henrik Karlsson's pads! And no one could reach the huge rebound which bounced up right into the air!
	16:08	With time Jokerit are taking care of possession much better, everyone looks very comfortable with the puck and not afraid to make slightly risky passes when breaking out
	14:39	Home forward Evgeniy Dadonov hopefully tosses the puck into the danger zone from the left, and Henrik Karlsson comfortably sweeps it up. Jokerit are holding off SKA well for the most part, keeping them at arm's length in their own zone
	12:44	Belov! That was an ideal chance to give SKA the lead! All alone at the tip of the crease Nikolay Belov takes aim, but he can only wrist past the left hand post! He surely had to do better!
	10:47	Kovalchuk! Viktor Tikhonov digs the puck out from a tough position on the right, dishes to Ilya Kovalchuk between the circles, and the ensuing slapper crashes over the bar! The goaltender was panicking!
	10:03	Icing is committed by SKA, seconds after a dangerous Tommi Huhtala feed from the right wing was deflected up and out of play. The hosts are looking confident in themselves today, playing around the puck with style
	08:56	The puck is chucked down into Jokerit's crease, Tony Martensson tries his best to get a telling touch, however Henrik Karlsson reacts fastest to cover it up!
	07:52	The Finnish visitors have barely had an attempt on SKA's goal at all yet, they are having to be patient while solid at the back line!
	07:05	Jimmie Ericsson skates past Jokerit's blue line, wrists early, the rebound pops out glove side, and it's batted not far over the net at all! That wasn't far away!
	04:52	Jokerit's Henrik Karlsson now comfortably fields a Dinar Khafizullin dump from deep. He can expect to have a lot of work to do, as SKA always love to pile on the pressure at home!
	03:52	Ilya Kovalchuk sends the play back to the point, Andrey Kuteikin slaps, and it drifts wide of the right post! SKA have begun with intent here!
	03:04	Burdasov! Anton Burdasov pokes his stick around for the puck to the right of the crease, thrashes at it, and Henrik Karlsson shuts the five hole in time to keep it out!
	01:09	We're go inside the packed Saint Petersburg Ice Palace! SKA will be wanting to finish their home regular season on a positive note!
	00:01	Game started.
		The teams are now out on to the ice, and after the Finnish and Russian national anthems we'll be getting underway!
		Starting lineups: SKA St. Petersburg: Koskinen (Ezhov)- Kalinin, Rukavishnikov, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Cervenka- N Belov, Kuteikin, Ketov, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Khafizullin, Thoresen, Martensson, Tikhonov- Ermakov, Yudin, Burdasov, Kablukov, Khokhryakov Jokerit Helsinki: Karlsson (Helenius)- Korpikari, Gunderson, Hagman, Kapanen, Huhtala- Vaananen, Jaakola, Ben-Amor, Wirtanen, Poysti- Ohtamaa, Lajunen, Umark, Hahl, Rita- Moses, Koukal Referees: Alexey Anisimov, Vyacheslav Bulanov, Viktor Birin, Sergey Morozov.
		These two sides have met three times this season so far, with SKA winning 4:1 in Saint Petersburg and 3:1, with Jokerit claiming a 3:1 triumph 3:1.
		This will be SKA's final home match of this KHL regular season, as they prepare to compete in the playoffs with second spot of the Western Conference on 118 points. Jokerit have had a fantastic debut season in the league, and aren't far behind in fourth with 111 points. They have however dropped their past two games in a row against Dynamo Moscow 1:2 and Avangard Omsk 3:4.
		Hello and welcome to this KHL regular season match between SKA Saint Petersburg and Jokerit Helsinki. This is a heavyweight matchup, with both sides real contenders for the Gagarin Cup come the end of the season.
		Welcome. Game starts at 15:30.

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 18. Rukavishnikov (Shipachyov), dec. goal Kovalchuk – 32. Lajunen (Moses, Omark)

Shootout:

1. series:

0:0 Cervenka (PET)

0:0 Kapanen (JOK)

2. series:

1:0 Kovalchuk (PET)

1:0 Moses (JOK)

3. series:

2:0 Khokhryakov (PET)

SKA St. Petersburg: Koskinen (Ezhov)- Kalinin, Rukavishnikov, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Cervenka- N Belov, Kuteikin, Ketov, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Khafizullin, Thoresen, Martensson, Tikhonov- Ermakov, Yudin, Burdasov, Kablukov, Khokhryakov

Jokerit Helsinki: Karlsson (Helenius)- Korpikari, Gunderson, Hagman, Kapanen, Huhtala- Vaananen, Jaakola, Ben-Amor, Wirtanen, Poysti- Ohtamaa, Lajunen, Umark, Hahl, Rita- Moses, Koukal

Referees: Alexey Anisimov, Vyacheslav Bulanov, Viktor Birin, Sergey Morozov

Attendance: 12326

1st period
	17:49
1st intermission
2nd period
	31:19
	31:22
	39:36
2nd intermission
3rd period
	47:16
After 3rd period
Overtime
before shootout
Shootout

after shootout